News and information for the worldwide dredging industry

Bisso Readies the Celia M

In November 1997, Bisso Marine Company salvaged the 167-foot Menhaden fishing vessel Celia M. The vessel sank in 50 feet of water after striking a submerged object five miles offshore of Grand Isle, on the coast of Louisiana. The crane barge Big Chief and derrick barge Lili Bisso were used to rig and lift the 600-ton vessel. Bisso personnel made temporary repairs, and the vessel was delivered to a shipyard for further repair.

In December, the company salvaged the 1000 hp pushboat Bayou Black in the Mississippi River at mile 119 AHP (above head of passes.) The vessel was lying upside down with three of four deck houses and about 40 percent of its hull buried below the midline, in 90 feet of water. The vessel was pulled free of the bottom with the D/B Cappy Bisso and D/B Ajax. It was taken to shallow water, where it was re-rigged and rolled upright, raised, placed aboard a deck barge and returned to the owners.

In January, the company raised the barge AR 851 at Harmony Street Wharf in New Orleans Harbor. Prior to raising the barge, Bisso divers recovered 34 steel coils that were lying in the hopper. The D/B Lili Bisso and D/B Ajax were used to raise the barge, which was returned intact to the operators.